Reading
List, Books, Articles and Links

Celtic Art and
Design, History, Culture and Customs

In order to assist
with your search for knowledge I have put together the following collection of
links and reading suggestions. Each is an article or book that I have personally
read and would recommend to further your understanding of Celtic subjects. Some
of the linked articles are part of this site and were written by myself, Stephen Walker,
other articles are off-site by various writers. Unfortunately many of the best
books are out of print. I plan to add a list of my favorites soon. Books that are in print are
available from Amazon.com.

Celtic Art and
Design

There are two kinds of writing about
Celtic Art. There is the university art history and archaeology departments stuff and there is the watered down, popular market romanticized stuff.
Both have their strengths and weaknesses. The academics write very
responsibly and factually for the most part, as they are writing for other
scholars who will tear them apart if they state anything they cannot support
with credible evidence. The downside is that they tend to be dry and difficult reading if
you do not already know quite a lot about the subject. They also deal with
Celtic Art only in the past tense which is a great disappointment if one
is looking for Celtic Art as a living tradition. The popular writers tend to be
very creative in their interpretations of Celtic Art and their writing is
appealing to those who are looking to Celtic Art for mystery and excitement.
Nothing wrong with that, Celtic Art is mysterious and exciting but these writers
are often fast and loose with the facts and often perpetuate half-truths and wishful
thinking. There is a regrettable tendency for these writers to generalize
broadly about The Celts, without regard for time and place. My purpose is to
select material that supports Celtic Art as part of a living and exciting tradition without
perpetuating bogus beliefs and creative ignorance.

Art of
the Celts (World of Art) by Lloyd and
Jennifer Laing. The history of Celtic Art from the Iron Age down to the Celtic
Revival of the 19th century. Highly recommended for getting started
understanding what Celtic Art is all about.

Celtic
Knotworkby
Iain Bain an alternative method written by the son of George Bain that appeals
to those who think more like engineers. Personally I prefer the book listed
above since it is more of an intuitive method. It all depends on how you think
and both books are quite valuable.

The
Book of Kellsby Bernard
Meehan
An illustrated introduction by the current Keeper of Manuscripts at Trinity
College in Dublin. Meehan provides a scholarly analysis of the Gospel
manuscripts, the artists, the texts and a full account of the historical
background to the miraculous world of the Book of Kells. Readable text and
excellent photos. A very good place to start getting serious about understanding
Celtic Art in a historical context.

The Work of Angels: Masterpieces of Celtic
Metalwork, 6th-9th Centuries Ad [out of print] By Susan Youngs (Editor) This book
is themasterwork on Celtic Metalsmithing. It is a
catalog of a joint exhibition that was put together by the Irish, Scottish and
British Museums of all their best pieces. Articles answered questions that I had
been wondering about for twenty years. Thrilling photographs. One of my all time favorite books. Nearly
out of print.

Columbia's
Island : Iona from Past to Present by E. Mairi MacArthur
The story of the place that was the center of Celtic Christianity from the
founding of Colum Cille's mission in 563 A. D. Dr. MacArthur traces the
population her island from prehistoric times through the present. From the
inhabitants of the Iron Age fort and of the medieval village beside the
Cathedral, right up to the men and women who worked the land and sea and adapted
to the changes of this century.

In Search of the
Picts - A Celtic Dark Age Celtic Nationby Elizabeth Sutherland
A very readable book that explores the mysterious puzzel about the Picts, the
inhabitants of Northern Scotland whose unique culture prior to 800 AD
contributed greatly to our wealth of Celtic Art in the form of stone carvings. I
wish more books were written in this style as it assumes a popular readership
without dumbing down the subject and poses some creative speculations without wafting off into New-Age fantasies.

Books
Carmina
Gadelica: Hymns & Incantationsby Alexander Carmichael (Compiler)
A landmark work of folklore collecting. Carmichael traveled the West Highlands
and Islands of Scotland in the late 1800's to put together this remarkable book
of oral tradition. A must have book for anyone serious about Celtic
Christianity or Highland folklore.

Links
Marketing the Celts an essay by Cath Filmer-Davies The University of Queensland.
A controversial essay about the authenticity of modern Celtic endeavors. She
makes some excellent points however I feel she is somewhat rigid in her
interpretation of the word "Celtic"